When you wish upon a star

Make-A-Wish club reboots to grant wish

With just $200 remaining on their overall $5,000 fundraising objective, the Make-A-Wish Club met Thursday to discuss its plans for the upcoming school year. First up on the agenda: the October wish-granting ceremony. 

The Make-A-Wish Club, which has an annual goal of granting a terminally ill child a life-changing “wish,” has set its sights on some major changes this year. 

“We are going to work super hard to grant two wishes in one year,” club sponsor Sandie Whittingon said. “We’ll grant this one in October, and then we need to try to grant another one before the end of the school year.”

Despite having previously granted more than eight consecutive wishes, the Make-A-Wish Club is said to have lagged over the last couple of years. The last time a wish was granted through the White Station High School chapter was in the spring of 2017. 

“I remember my freshman year the seniors were really passionate about it, but I know people in my grade were not as passionate,” club member Jillian Maxwell (11) said. “And now that we’re so close to the goal I feel like there’s a bigger drive.” 

As a new era of fundraising dawns on the club, Whittington hopes to see members accept a greater deal of responsibility. Her main goal, however, goes much deeper. 

“I’d like to see the heart and soul get brought back into the club,” Whittington said.